Senate Challenger Filing Lacks Finance Report

August 21, 2002|By Susannah Bryan Staff Writer

LAUDERHILL — Political newcomer A. Tarkan Ocal, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Mandy Dawson in a run for state Senate, submitted an incomplete campaign finance report this month, according to officials with the state Division of Elections.

Candidates are required to file campaign finance reports with the state Division of Elections listing all contributions, loans and expenditures.

The report Ocal submitted on Aug. 9 failed to list expenditures or include a summary report for the period from July 1 to Aug. 2, said Ed Kast, director of the state Division of Elections.

Ocal told two South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporters in early August he had raised $14,040 -- including a $10,000 loan from his wife -- during July and received in-kind contributions of campaign fliers and buttons. His campaign report listed $2,850 in contributions from July 1, 2002 through Aug. 2, 2002, but did not list the loan or in-kind gifts.

Ocal, 46, a Lauderhill resident, faces Corey Alston and Dawson in the Democratic primary for Senate District 29 on Sept. 10. The winner will face Fred Segal, an independent, in November.

Elections officials called Ocal last Friday and left him a message telling him his report is incomplete and asking for an amended report, Kast said. They had not heard from him as of Tuesday, and plan to send him a written notice today, Kast said.

Ocal could not be reached for comment.

By law, candidates have three days to file an amended report, but are often given about 10 days upon receipt of a written notice, Kast said.

If a candidate fails to submit the proper paperwork after receiving a request to do so, Kast said the Division of Elections will notify the Florida Elections Commission, which is charged with investigating complaints about election law violations.

The Elections Commission would then investigate, Kast said.

An official with the Elections Commission declined to comment.

"We don't make comments on those kind of specific situations," said Barbara Linthicum, executive director of the Florida Elections Commission.

The next deadline for filing campaign finance reports is Friday.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2028.